Why is there an elephant outside Miah’s Spencers Wood?

Many will have driven past the elephant outside Miah’s Spencers Wood on Basingstoke Road and wondered about what’s inside.

The landmark is at the entrance to the Indian restaurant that is perfect for a meal out or having a takeaway.

You can hardly miss it, as it is at the junction with Hyde End Road.

There is a small car park at the rear of the restaurant with a walkway to the front door. It feels like it is trespassing the first time you use it, but it is perfectly fine to be used.

If the car park is full, it is possible to park on the road.

Inside, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with some very ornate lamps that cast bejewelling shadows on the walls. It is unique, although looking over the menu means there may be times when you wish they were a little brighter.

There are three dining areas, one of which is tucked away around a corner creating a space for a more intimate party.

Every good Indian restaurant encourages you to start off with some poppadoms (80p each) and pickles (£3.50 tray, 70p each), so it’s no surprise that Miah’s does the same. The tray dips comprise mango chutney, lime pickle, mint yoghurt sauce, tamar sauce, onion salad, and coconut and carrot.

There are also traditional starters, including a crisp onion bhaji (£4.25), which snaps under the cutlery, and is a meal in itself. These large golden balls are the size of a fist.

Miah’s Spencers Wood serves all the traditional trappings of an Indian restaurant – if you want a korma, a tikka masala or a rogan josh, you’re in luck. But to stick to that side of the menu deprives you of the opportunity of trying something more unique as the venue has a range of house specials to suit every palate.

There’s a Lamb Shank (£18.95) which comes with steamed basmati rice and a naan bread, a Special Mixed Massala (£17.95) which is fused tandoori-cooked chicken, lamb, chicken tikka with king prawns. It comes with a mild juicy gravy, rice and naan bread.

The Mackney Murgh (£16.95) is a chicken breast stuffed with spiced, minced lamb and a boiled egg, and is cooked in Miah’s special sauce. It comes with rice and a naan. It’s something I’ve had on previous visits and is recommended.

There is an Authentic Indian Street Food section, which includes dishes with a bit of theatre to them: anything with Sizzler in the name means it’s served on a heated cast iron skillet so the juices sizzle as they are brought to the table.

Items include the Grilled Shashlik Sizzler (£11.95, chicken, lamb or ponir cheese), served with peppers, onion and mixed salad.

A Grilled Tandoori Chicken (half £9.95, whole £17.95) is a beast of a feast.

It eschews traditional sauces, although it does come with a salad. With a naan bread to use as a makeshift sandwich and is a hearty meal all by itself.

The Chicken Jeera Adrath (£14.95, also available as lamb) is one of Miah’s unique dishes in its Heavenly Meals collection. The chicken is marinated with fresh ginger, onion and herbs before being cooked over a charcoal grill with a medium blend of sauces with jerra (cumin) and honey.

It’s a very pleasant dish that has a bit of pep to it without being unpleasant, and is definitely good to have a change from the usual…

… But for those that like the usual suspects, well, the Chicken Korma (£10.95, vegetarian £9.95, prawn £15.95) is pretty similar to any Indian restaurant korma: creamy sauce, very mild and coconutty, it is the perfect place for people to start their journey with Indian food.

Big pieces of chicken breast and a thick and tasty sauce means it’s a hit for most.

What makes it unique is its presentation. There aren’t many places that will bring you a curry with its own cocktail stick umbrella delicately placed in it.

It’s a bit of visual theatre that puts a smile on your face before the meal begins.

Most main courses at Miah’s Spencers Wood come in around the £11 mark, plus rice (from £3.50) and naan breads (from £2.95).

There are the usual range of naans, with the garlic being a favourite. Freshly made, these are light and fluffy and perfect for mopping up sauce from plates.

There are also side dishes such as Sag Aloo and Tarka Dhal (£5.95 each).

Although the menu is on the higher side of Indian restaurants, the portions are big, and to be honest you’ll be wanting to take leftovers home for the following day.

Just be aware that you will make a mess, and you will probably feel a bit guilty that the linen tablecloths have stains on them. But, well, everyone does it. Well, OK, I do it, and the staff are used to diplomatically dealing with your mess.

Service is at a gentle pace: staff do frequently look over to check everything is OK, but there is no sense that customers are being hurried out of the door.  If anything, it’s quite the opposite, with ice cream desserts and after dinner liquors to choose from.

The restaurant is fully licensed, which means Indian lagers Kingfisher and Cobra are available – in bottles, and there is an extensive selection of wines and spirits.

Others may appreciate asking for a lassi, an Indian yoghurt drink, while soft drinks are also available.

There are usually some special offers running. These vary according to the day of the week and whether you are dining in or collecting a takeaway. Look out for these on their website or in banners or posters outside the restaurant.

And there are three set menus, at £25.95 per person for those dining in.

There is a choice of starters, a main course, two side dishes and a dessert of either ice cream or a hot drink.

Miah’s Spencers Wood is a very pleasant place to enjoy a meal out, be it a romantic encounter, a catch-up with friends or a family meal. It can accommodate large and small groups, and manages to ensure everyone is served within good time.

The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunches and evenings, from noon to 2.30pm and then from 5pm. It closes at 11.30pm, except for Fridays and Saturdays when it closes at midnight.

As it can cater for larger groups as well as more intimate catch-ups, booking is advisable.

So, that elephant? It’s just there, once seen, never forgotten.

Miah’s Spencers Wood
Tankerton House, Basingstoke Road, Spencers Wood RG7 1AE
0118 988 8393 or 0118 988 8394
spencerswood@miahs.co.uk
https://miahs-spencerswood.co.uk/